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Voters may punish members of Congress who supported shutdown

The 16 days of a partial government shutdown has done nothing for the popularity of Congress.

But individual members who opposed the shutdown are getting a boost in some political polls, while those who supported it aren't.

A poll released Wednesday as Congress teetered on the edge of ending the shutdown showed U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, ahead of Republican Terri Lynn Land in the race for U.S. Senate next year.

The poll of 642 registered voters in Michigan was taken by North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling on behalf of the liberal group American United for Change Oct. 14-15.

Terri Lynn Land

It showed Peters with a 43-36 percent lead over Land, but that expanded to 50-36 percent when voters were told that Peters opposed the shutdown.

Polling was also conducted in Iowa, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas and North Carolina — all states with active Senate races next year.